Apparatus for sorting individual sheets into separate piles



Sept.'27, 1955 1.. A. CUNDALL ET AL 2,718,965 APPARATUS FOR SORTINGINDIVIDUAL S IEETS INTO SEPARATE FILES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 6,1951 LincolnA Culzdall Thomas J Perconfz' Bnuentors L. A. CUNDALL ET AL2,718,965

APPARATUS FOR SORTING INDIVIDUAL SHEETS INTO SEPARATE FILES Sept. 27,1955 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan 6, 1951 Lincoln A. Cundall Thomas JPerconfi 3nr entors C(ttornegs Sept. 27, 1955 1.. A. CUNDALL ET ALAPPARATUS FOR sommc INDIVIDUAL SHEETS INTO SEPARATE FILES 4 SheetsSheeLincalnAC'unda/l Thomas J Perconzi Smaentors ttornegs Sept. 27, 1955 L.A. CUNDALL ETAL APPARATUS FOR SOR'IING INDIVIDUAL SHEETS INTO SEPARATEFILES 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 6, 1951 Lincoln A. Cuna'all Tho/12cm].Perm/2i! 3 nnentors zit/1 Gttornegs United States Patent APPARATUS FORSORTING INDIVIDUAL SHEETS INTO SEPARATE PILES Lincoln A. Cundall andThomas J. Perconti, Rochester,

N. Y., assignors to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., acorporation of New Jersey The present invention relates to an apparatusfor sorting individual sheets into separate piles dependent upon theircharacteristics, and particularly to a sorting mechanism which isadapted to handle sheets which are intermittently fed at a uniform rateto the sorting mechanism; said mechanism being controlled by a scanningmeans which inspects the sheets prior to their reaching the sortingstation.

In the photographic art, paper is coated with a lightsensitive emulsionin long lengths and is later cut up into sheets of certain sizes formaking photographic prints. In order to be sure that only paper havinggood coating gets to the customer, it is common practise to inspect thelong webs of paper after coating and mark defective areas therein bypunching perforations in and/ or around the defective areas to designatethem for future reference, and then rewind the paper on large rollsuntil the paper is to be chopped into given length sheets. When the rollof inspected paper is put on the chopping machine and cut into sheets,some means must be provided to stack the good sheets in one pile and thedefective sheets (those designated by perforations in the web) inanother pile. A suitable scanning means used for detecting perforationsin the moving web is a photocell, or other light-sensitive opticalmeans, arranged so that the amount of light striking the same is variedby the presence of a perforation, or other defect in the web, and whichcell then gives a suitable signal of such fact which is then used tocause the operation of the sorting means to separate the sheetcontaining this perforation, or other defect, from good sheets.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a combinedweb-chopping and sorting apparatus which is adapted to intermittentlychop the web into sheets of a given length at a uniform rate, scan theweb for perforations prior to chopping it into sheets, and to sort thesheets containing no perforations into one pile and those containingperforations into another pile in response to signals set up by ascanning means.

A further object is to provide a combined sheet-chopping and sortingmechanism of the type described wherein the web is intermittently fedbetween intermittently operated shearing knives, and to a sortingmechanism comprising a pair of reciprocally operated pusher membersreciprocated in alternate relation and in timed relation with theweb-feeding and chopping mechanism, so that the end of the web, as fedthrough the chopper, is moved in front of said first pusher member whenin a retracted position. Therefore, if the sheets being chopped are allgood ones, they are each pushed by the first pusher member into one pileand a sheet is fed in front of the second pusher member only if it isindicated as defective and the first pusher member is momentarilyparalyzed by a signal set up by the scanning means acting on the web asit approaches the chopper.

-And, another object is to provide a sorting mechanism of the typedescribed which includes two pusher members reciprocated across the pathof the sheets leaving the chopper, the first pusher member having adrive connec- 2,718,965 Patented Sept. 27, 1955 "ice tion which can bereadily momentarily disconnected so that the first pusher member willremain motionless for one or more strokes in its retracted orinoperative position to permit the sheets to pass to the second pushermember.

And yet, another object is to provide a sorting mechanism of the typedescribed wherein the connection between the two pusher members is suchthat the first pusher member will always be returned to its inoperativeposition, even if disconnected from the driving means, and whenreconnected to the driving means will take up its movement in propersynchronized relation with the second pusher member.

A further object is to provide a sorting mechanism of the type describedwhich includes means for positively feeding a sheet from in front ofsaid first pusher to a position in front of the second pusher, saidfeeding means being normally inoperative and rendered operative when thefirst pusher is disconnected from its driving means.

And, another object is to provide a sorting mechanism of the typedescribed including a positive stop for positioning the sheet beingchopped in front of the first pusher member, said stop member being somounted and connected with the means for disconnecting the first pusherfrom its drive that it is moved out of the path of the sheets when thefirst pusher is rendered motionless.

And, another object is to provide a sorting mechanism of the typedescribed which includes a pair of guide rods extending along oppositesides of each pusher member which are spaced from the face thereof andoverhang the edges of the sheets to form, in combination with the pushermembers, guideways into which the sheets may pass and be supportedfacewise against falling laterally forward or backward. These guide rodsare pivotally mounted to swing from an operative guiding position to aninoperative position wherein they are swung away from overhangingrelation with the edges of the sheets. They are connected with thepusher members so that they are moved to an inoperative position by theinitial movement of the pusher members toward their operative positionsand are returned to their guiding positions as the pusher members areretracted to their inoperative positions.

And yet, another object is to provide a sorting mechanism of the typedescribed wherein the means for feeding the sheets from the first to thesecond pusher member comprises a pair of endless, constantly movingbelts normally moved to a position out of engagement with the edges ofthe sheets and aligned with said guide rods to grip the edges of thesheets between themselves and said guide rods when moved to a feedingposition. The belts are moved to their feeding position by abelt-shifting roller which is connected to the mechanism fordisconnecting the first pusher member from its drive so that the feedingmeans is rendered operative only when the first pusher member isparalyzed.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View showing a sorting mechanismconstructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, and illustrating schematically its association with theweb-scanning means which controls the selective sorting action of themechanism.

In this figure, the first pusher member .is shown connected to itsdriving cam for placing all cut sheets in one pile;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the delay or memory device whichis set by the photocells scanning the web upon the appearance of aperforation in that portion of the web advancing to the chopper, butwhich does not apply that signal to the sorting mechanism until theinstant that the perforated area of the web reaches its position infront of the first pusher member, at which time this pusher member isparalyzed;

Fig.- 4 is, an enlarged view of the major portion of the sortingmechanism, and particularly the means for disconnecting the first pushermember from its drive. This figure shows the first pusher memberdisconnected from its drive, the sheet stop removed from the path of thesheets at the lower end of the pusher member and the feed belt pushedforward to its sheet-feeding position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional detail taken substantially online 55 of Fig. 2 and showing the pusher member in its retractedposition and the guide rods along the edges thereof in theirsheet-confining or operative positions;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail corresponding to Fig. 5, but showing. onlyone guide rod and one corner of the pusher member in the positions theyassume when the pusher has just started forward and the guide rods areswung to an open position to allow the sheet to be pushed forward; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 5 and 6 but showing the guide rods inthe position they assume after the pusher has reached its full forwardposition and returns to its retracted or inoperativeposition.

Like reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughoutthedrawings.

Briefly, our invention relates to a sorting mechanism for sorting intodifferent piles sheets which are considered good and sheets which areconsidered defective, said sheets being intermittently fed to a givenposition occupied by the sorting mechanism at a uniform rate. Thesorting mechanism comprises a pair of pusher members which arereciprocated alternately, the first pusher member moving transversely ofsaid given position at a rate commensurate with the feeding of thesheetsthereto so as to tend to push all of the sheets into one pile.Means are provided for selectively rendering the first pusher memberinactive in its retracted position sothat a given sheet may pass to thesecond pusher member and be pushed into the second pile thereby; andmeans responsive to a sheet-scanning system are provided for paralyzingsaid first pusher member at the time a defective sheet is-fed in frontthereof. The defective-sheet isthen fed in front of the second pushermember which sortsit into adefect pile. While the sorting mechanismis.particu-. larly adapted for use with a web-chopping mechanism, itcanbe used in connection with any source ofsheet supply wherein thesheets are fed intermittently at a uniform rate, and are scanned inadvance of the sorting operation.

Referring now to the schematic showing in Fig. 1, the overall operationof the sorting mechanism, when combinedwith a web-chopping apparatus,will be outlined. The web W to be chopped into sheets of a given length,and which has been previously inspected for surface defectsand had thedefective areas marked by perforations, is contained on a supply roll10. From the. supply roll 10 the web W passes over a constantly drivenfeed'roll 11, over a feeding and scanning roll 12, a holdback roll 13,and thence to anintermittent advancing. means, indicated generally at14, which intermittentlyvfeeds the web at a uniform rate past anintermittently operated chopper, indicated generally as 15, to thesorting. mechanism, indicated generally as 16. A loop 17 ismaintainedinthe web in advance of the intermittent feed to permit theintermittent feeding mechanism to operate, and the speed. of. thedriverolls 11 and 12 can be automatically adjusted by-suitable means,notshown, in orderto maintain -a loop of sufiicient size in the web atthis point. The holdback roll 13, which may be of any well-knownconstruction, not shown, is to maintain that portion of the web in frontof the intermittent feeding mechanism in a taut condition, so that theintermittent feed can be relied upon to advance a given length of web ateach operation.

While any number of difierent forms of intermittent web-feeding meansmight be provided, it is preferable to have one of the gripping type,rather than the claw type, because the web is generally not providedwith regular perforations along its lengths with which a claw cancooperate. As one form of intermittent pull down which might be used, wehave shown a pair of Web grippers mounted on a single block 18 which isreciprocated along the film path by a bull wheel and crank assemblyindicated at 19, the stroke of the wheel and crank assembly beingadjustable to suit the length of web feed desired. Fixed to the block 18on one side of the web is a stationary gripper member 20 having aweb-gripping face of cloth, or other material which will not injure thesurface of the web. On the other end of the block, and on the other sideof the web is mounted an air cylinder 21 containing a piston 22connected to a movable gripper member 22 adapted to grip the web betweenitself and the stationary gripper member 20 at the top of the stroke ofthe block and pull the'web down as the block moves down. This movablegripper is normally spring-pressed to its webreleasing position by aspring 23, and is forced to its gripping'position when air, underpressure, is introduced into the cylinder from a suitable supply throughpipe 24 and stationary valve V. When the block 18 is at the top of itsstroke, as shown, a port in the end thereof lines up with one in thevalve V so that when the latter is opened by cam 25, air enters thecylinder and moves piston 22 and gripper member 22 toward the stationarygripper-member 20 to grip the web. As the block moves down, the end ofcylinder 21 slides along wall L so that the .port in the end thereof isclosed off and air is trapped in the cylinder to hold the gripper member22' in a webgripping position throughout the pull-down stroke. When theblock reaches the end of its stroke, the port in the'end of cylinder 21lines up with an exhaust port M in the wall L whereupon the grippermember 22 is allowed to be moved to-its web-releasing position under theaction of spring 23. The gripper. member 22 remains in this releaseposition until the block 18 again reaches the top. of its stroke, atwhich time cam 25 again opens-valve V and air is again introducedintothe cylinder 21. Theintermittent feeding mechanism advances a givenlength of web through the chopping apparatus which includesa stationaryshearmember 26 and a movable -kni-fe 27vwhich is operated in anintermittent manner We cam 28, as shown.

The: web -W when fed through the chopping mechanism is moved to asorting; mechanism comprising a first pusher member 29"and a secondpusher member 30which are. alternatelyreciprocated across the path ofthesheets A as they are chopped. As more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4,this sorting mechanism comprises a first pusher member 29 having arectangular plate 29 at its front end which is slightly smaller in areathan the sheets to be handled, and which lies in a plane parallel to,and moves transversely across, the plane occupied by the sheet leavingthe chopper. The second pusher member 30.is identical to the firstpusher member in form, and is located below the same by approximatelythe length of a sheet; These two pusher members are mounted to bereciprocally moved in alternate relation across the path of the websheets as they leave the chopper. To this end, rearwardly extending-arm31 of the'first pusher member has a link 32 pivotally connected thereto.at '35, the other end of link 32.being pivotally mounted on shaft 34.A' rearwardly extending arm 31 of th'esecond pusher member-30likewise;has:a link 32' pivotally connected:

atfifi-thereto, the other endiaof theilink-abeing. pivotally mounted onshaft 34 beside link 32. A link 33 and a link 33' are pivotally mountedon a fixed shaft 37 and are, in turn, pivotally connected to arm 31 ofthe first pusher member at point 38 and to arm 31 of the second pushermember at point 39, respectively. Pusher members 29 and 30 are normallymoved to the left or to their retracted and inoperative positions bytension springs S and S, respectively, which are connected between afixed part of the frame of the apparatus indicated at F and the arms 31and 31' of the pusher members.

The prime mover for the pusher members comprises a cam 40 which isoscillatably mounted on shaft 34 and oscillated by means not shown.Power is transmitted from cam 40 to pusher member 29 by a rod 41pivotally connected to a link 33 at point 42, said rod 41 having aroller 43 on one end engaging a concave portion 44 in the face of thecam. Thus, as the cam moves in a clockwise direction, rod 41 is pushedto the right and pusher member 29 is pushed to the right across the pathof the sheets so as to push the sheet in front thereof into a pile,

as indicated in Fig. 1. At the same time as pusher member 29 is moved tothe right by cam 40, pusher member 30 is moved to the left or to aretracted and inoperative position by its spring S.

Power is transmitted from cam 40 to pusher member 30 by a roller 46fixed to the link 32 which engages a concave portion 47 in the cam.Thus, as cam 40 moves in a counterclockwise direction, roller 46 andlink 32', to which it is connected, are moved in a counterclockwisedirection, and since pusher member 30 is connected to link 32' at point36, it is moved to the right across the path of the sheets and will movea sheet in front thereof into a separate pile, as indicated in Fig. 1.At the same time as pusher member 30 is being moved to the right, pushermember 29 is being moved to the left by its spring S. It will thus beseen that if the drive for the cam 40 and the drives for theintermittent pull down and webchopping apparatus are connected togetherin any suitable way, as indicated by dotted lines connecting theseparts, so as to be synchronized in operation, the web W will be advancedthrough the chopping mechanism to a point in front of the first pushermember 29 while the latter is in a retracted position, and the sheetwill be chopped from the web in time to be pushed into the first pile Pof good sheets when the pusher member is moved across the web or sheetpath to its operative position. So long as only good sheets are comingalong, the first pusher member handles them all, and the second pushermember 30 does nothing, although it keeps reciprocating. While thesecond pusher member 30 could be disconnected from the drive when notneeded, there is no disadvantage in having it operate at all times.Since such an arrangement makes for a more simple mechanism, this is themanner in which we allow the pushers to operate.

When a defective sheet leaves the chopping apparatus, some means must beprovided for disconnecting the first pusher member 29 from the drivewhile in its retracted position to allow the sheet to move on down infront of the second pusher member which then moves it into a separatepile P. To this end, a bell crank 49 is pivoted on shaft 37 and has onearm 50 joined to rod 41 by a link 51 pivotally connected at points 52and 53 to the rod and arm, respectively. Movement of the bell crank in aclockwise direction will thus cause rod 41 to be pivoted upwardlywhereupon the roller 43 on the end thereof will be removed fromengagement with the drive cam 40, see Fig. 4. Thus, when cam 40 moves ina clock wise direction, no force is transmitted to pusher member 29 tomove it from its retracted position, but when moved counterclockwise thecam 40 will drive the second pusher member 30 by engaging roller 46 anddriving link 32' to'the right.

Any suitable means may be provided for moving bell crank 49 between itstwo positions depending upon the application of the sorting mechanismand the type of signal to which it is to respond. In the presentapplication of this sorting mechanism to an apparatus for chopping acontinuous web into sheets and sorting the chopped sheets in twodifferent piles dependent upon the presence of perforations previouslyplaced in the web to designate defective areas of the web, we have foundthe following mechanism very satisfactory.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the end of the bell crank is connected to therod 55 of a piston 56 of an air cylinder 57 by a link 58 pivoted to therod at point 59 and to the arm of the bell crank 49 at point 60. Thispivotal connection of link 58 is necessitated by the fact that thepiston rod moves in a horizontal direction while the arm of the bellcrank moves through an arc. The

" piston 56 is normally moved to the right, looking at Figs.

1 and 2, or to a position to move bell crank 49 to the position shown inFig. 2, by a compression spring 61, and in which position the rod 41 islocated to connect the first pusher member to the drive cam 40. Airunder pressure is introduced into, and exhausted from, cylinder 57through an air line 61 which is connected to a valve 62 which in oneposition connects the line to an exhaust port 63, see Fig. 1, and in theother position connects the line to an air supply 64 from which airunder pressure issues. The plunger 65 of the valve is normally moved toan exhausting position by a spring 66 and is preferablysolenoid-operated so that when its coil 67 is energized, the plungermoves down to close the exhaust port and allow air to enter the cylinder57. The circuit of the solenoid operating the valve contains a source ofpotential B and a normally open switch 68.

All that is necessary is to determine when a defective area of the webwill reach the chopping apparatus and to give a signal which will closethe switch 68, thus causing the first pusher member to be paralyzed atthe time the sheet including this area is chopped 0E, thus allowing itto move down in front of the second pusher member. To this end we chooseto detect the presence of perforations in the web by photoelectric meansat a point in advance of the chopper and to use the signal given out bythis photoelectric means to close the switch 68 at a given time afterthe signal is originally given so that the area of the web, to which thesignal pertains, will be in front of the first pusher member at the timethe same is paralyzed in response to said signal. As shown, the scanningroll 12 may be transparent, or only engage the web at its edges, andwithin the roll is situated one or more light-sensitive cells 70 whicliare shielded by an opaque sleeve 71 having a narrow slit 72 extendingacross the width of the web. A suitable line of light is directed intothis slit by a focused light source 73 which is disposed on the oppositeside of the web from the photocell 70, and the web is normallysufficiently opaque to cut the light from the cell so that it gives nouseful signal.

When a perforation in the web W passes over the slit 72, the photocell70 is affected and gives out a current signal which causes energizationof a solenoid 74 causing its plunger 75 to be drawn inwardly against theaction of compression spring 76. As shown clearly in Fig. 3, this swingslever 77 about its pivot 78 from the dottedline position to thefull-line position and causes the rounded end 79 thereof to engage andaxially slide a switch-actuating segment 80 in the rotating timing disk81 to a switch-actuating position. This timing disk 81 comprises aplurality of switch-actuating segments 80 circumferentially disposedaround the disk and including pins 82 slidably engaging the disk topermit the segments to move axially of the disk between an extendedinoperative position in which the radially extending switch-actuatingportions 83 are not in the plane of pivoted switchactuating arm 84 toengage the same and close switch 68 as the disk rotatescounterclockwise, and a depressed operative position in which theportions 83 are.in the plane of said switch arm 84' and will momentarilydepress the same to close the switch as the disk rotates. As abovedescribed, closing of switch 68 energizes the solenoid 67 and opensvalve 62 to permit air to enter cylinder 57 and paralyze the firstpusher member. The drive for disk 81 is tied up or synchronized with thedrive of the intermittent pulldown, as indicated by a dotted line, sothat a given switch segment of the timing disk moves from a positionopposite the rounded end of lever 77 to a switch-operating position,approxi mately 180 in Fig. l, in the same time it takes a given point inthe web W to move from a point opposite the scanning slit 72 to a pointbelow the shear blades of the chopping apparatus. Accordingly, aperforation in the web which sets up a signal in the scanning systemwill be in the sheet opposite the first pusher member when the signal itset up in the photocell is impressed on the control system to paralyzethe first member and this will allow this sheet to move to the secondpusher for displacement thereby into the pile of defective sheets. Forresetting the switch-operating segments 80 to their inoperative positionafter they have served a purpose and prior to again reaching the lever77, a stationary cam surface 86 is fixed to the frame of the apparatusin the path of the ends of the pins 82 of the segments 80, said camsurface serving to cam said segments back to their inoperative positionsas the disk rotates relative thereto, see Fig. 3.

In order to guide the sheets down in front of the pusher members andtokeep the sheets from prematurely falling facewise from in frontthereof, each pusher member has associated therewith a pair of guiderods 90 which will now be specifically described with reference to Figs.-7. Since each pusher member has the same guide rod construction andoperation, only the combination of one pair of guide rods with itsassociated pusher member has been shown and will be described. Likewise,since the operative connection between each pair of guide rods and itsrespective pusher member is the same, only that between one guide rodand its pusher member is shown and will be described.

Referring now to Figs. 5-7, a pair of guide rods 90 are carried on theends of arms 91 pivoted to the frame at 92 to move between an operativeposition shown in Fig. 5, wherein they overhang the edges of the sheet Apositioned in front of the plate 29 of the first pusher member 29, andan inoperative position shown in Fig. 6 wherein they are swung outwardlyfrom in front of the edges of said sheet to allow the same to be pushedforward by the pusher member. Looking at Fig. 5, it will be observedthat the sheet engaging plate 29' of the pusher member 29 is not as wideas the sheet A and can itself pass between the guide rods 90 when theyare in their operative position. The guide rods merely form incombination with the plate 29 of the pusher member a guideway into whichthe sheets may pass and be held in an upright position until this pushermember operates. In this capacity, the plate 29 engages one face of thesheet and the guide rods 90 engage the vertical edges of the other faceof the sheet.

In order that the pusher member 29 may push a sheet into one of the twopiles, the guide rods must be swung to their inoperative position topermit the sheet to pass, and they must be returned to their operativeposition by the time the pusher member returns to its retracted positionin order to be ready to accept the next sheet. To

accomplish this, the guide rods 90 are operatively connected to thepusher members in a manner to be now described.

The guide-rods 90 are operatively connected to the pusher member 29 sothat during the initial part of the forward motion of the pusher memberfrom its normal retracted position to its operative position, and priorto the sheet being pushed against the guide rods 90 thereby, the guiderods are swung to their inoperative position shown in Fig. 6. This isaccomplished by a cam 93'. of the form best. shown in Fig. 7, which isfixed to a stub shaft 94 rotatably mounted on a fixed part of the frame.A roller 95 carried by the supporting arm 91 for the guide rods isnormally held in engagement with this cam through the action of atension spring 96 acting on arm 91 and tending to rotate. it in aclockwise direction and to a position wherein the guide rod is in aninoperative position. Also fixed to the rotatable stub shaft 94 above orbelow cam 93 is a driving member 97 having. a slider 98 pivotallymounted thereon engaging a horizontal slot 99 in a block 88 fastened tothe pusher member 29 by bolt 89 so as to move forward and back as thepusher member reciprocates, and in turn cause the driver member and thestub shaft 94 and cam 93 connected thereto to oscillate throughsubstantially 90. As the pusher member starts to move forward from theposition shown in Fig. 5, the shaft 94 and cam 93 is rotated by drivemember 97 until the roller drops off the sharp corner 100 of the cam andinto the recess 101 therein. This allows the arms 91 to move in aclockwise direction almost immediately by an amount sufficient to swingthe guide rods to an inoperative position, see Fig. 6. As the pushermember continues to. move forward, the cam 93 continues to rotateclockwise and roller 95 follows the contour thereof, under the action ofspring 96 acting on arm 91, until when the pusher member reaches itsfull operative position, the cam 93 assumes the position shown in Fig. 7wherein portion 102 thereof engages the roller 95 and has swung the arm91 back to its starting position wherein the guide rods are returned totheir operative position. The radius of portion 102 of cam 93 relativeto shaft 94 is. slightly greater than the radius of that portion of thecam engaged by the roller during the retracted position of the pushermember, so that when the pusher member reaches its full operativeposition shown in Fig. 7, the nose 103 of a spring-operated latch member104 is adapted to snap into. engagement with a notch 105 in the end ofarm 91 and positively hold the arm in its operative position during thereturn stroke of the pusher member. This prevents the roller 95 fromfollowing the contour of the cam 93 during the return stroke of thepusher member and eliminates. the problem of getting the roller 95 overthe sharp corner 100 of the cam 93- and also eliminates any unnecessarymovement of the guide rods and their associated mechanism. The latchmember 104 is swung clockwise to remove the nose 103 thereof from notch105 and allow roller 95 to again drop down on the first portion of cam93 when a pin 106, carried by the cam, comes in contact with the tail107 of the latch member upon the cam. 93 returning to its startingposition, as shown in Fig. 5.

It is not good practise to rely upon gravity to bring a defective sheetA down from in front of pusher member 29 to a position in front ofpusher member 30, so we provide a feeding means for this purpose whichis operative only when the upper pusher member is paralyzed. To this endwe mount twoendless belts 110 at the side of each of the pusher membersand behind the sheet path, each belt running over an upper pulley 111and a lower pulley 112 with one reach of each belt extending along oneedge of each sheet outside of the pusher members, see Figs. 2 and 5. Asclearly indicated in Fig. 2, the axis of the upper pulley 11-1 is offsetrearwardly of the axis of the lower pulley so that the reach of thebelts lies at an angle to the path of. the sheets and approaches theplane occupied by the. sheets at a point. adjacent the bottom of thefirst pusher member. The belts are arranged in this manner so that theywill not normally engage a sheet A positioned in front of the firstpusher member and tend to feed it to the second pusher member as theywould do since they are continuously driven.

In order to render the feeding means operative,'the reach of the beltsadjacent the sheet path is moved forward into engagement with the sheetby pivoting a bell crank 113 in a clockwise direction to move abeltengaging roller 114 on the arm 115 thereof into engagement with thebelts. It is to be understood there is a similar belt-engaging rollerfor each belt. To bring this operation about only at the time the firstpusher member is paralyzed, and a sheet is to be fed to the secondpusher member, the other arm 116 of the bell crank is connected to thearm 117 of bell crank 49 by a pivoted connecting link 119. Consequently,when bell crank 49 is moved clockwise to disconnect the first pushermember fromits drive, the roller 114 is swung toward the belt'to movethe downwardly moving reach thereof into engagement with the sheet A infront of the pusher. Looking at Fig. it will be noticed that thedownwardly moving reaches of the belts 110 line up with the guide rods90, so that when they are moved forward, they grip the edges of thesheet A between themselves and these rods to advance the same. Becauseof the inclined relation of the belts to the lower pusher member, andguide rods 90 associated therewith, just as soon as the sheet is movedfrom in front of the first pusher member 29 it is gripped and held bythe belts despite the position of the roller 114. The sheet A is stoppedin front of the lower pusher member 30 by a stop member 120 fixed to theframe of the apparatus and extending into the path of the sheet, seeFig. 2.

The sheets A leaving the chopper mechanism are stopped in front of thefirst pusher member by a stop member 121 which the lower edge of thesheets engages. In order to remove this stop member 121 from the path ofthe sheets when a defective sheet comes along which is to be fed to thelower pusher member, this stop is pivotally mounted on the pivot forbell crank 113 and has a pivotal connection with the pivotpoint 123between link 119 and arm 116 of bell crank 113. Accordingly, when thebell crank 49 is moved clockwise to disconnect the first pusher memberfrom driving cam 40, it removes the stop member 121 from the path of thesheets at the same time it moves the belt shifting roller 114 intoengagement with the belts 110, see Fig. 4.

While we have shown our sheet-sorting mechanism in combination with aweb-chopping machine wherein the web is scanned prior to being chopped,it will be readily understood that it is not limited to use incombination with such an apparatus. In the broadest sense, the onlylimitation to the operation of this sorting mechanism is that the sheetsbe intermittently fed at a uniform rate past a given position, suchposition being one at which the first pusher member 29 would be located.Likewise, the sorting mechanism is not limited to the particularscanning means disclosed for purposes of illustration or the particularmeans shown for paralyzing the first pusher member in response to asignal from said scanning means. This is true because the scanning couldbe done on individual sheets instead of a continuous web; could bevisual or mechanical rather than electrooptical, and the paralyzing ofthe first pusher member could be affected manually as well asmechanically, if so desired. By the same token, the sorting means is notdependent upon the pusher members being vertically disposed andincluding a separate sheet-feeding means for advancing a sheet from infront of the first pusher member to the second one. The sheets could befed horizontally over pushers arranged to work vertically, and thesheets could be fed to and from the pushers in succession by anintermittent feed independent of the pushers, except for a synchronousoperation between the two.

Although we have shown and described certain specific embodiments of ourinvention, we are fully aware that many modifications thereof arepossible. Our invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to thespecific details of construction shown and described, but is intended tocover all modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A sorting mechanism for selectively sorting sheets intermittently fedinto a given position at a uniform rate into one or the other of twodifierent piles and comprising a first pusher member mounted toreciprocate across said given position between an inoperative position,wherein it allows the sheets to assume said given position, and anoperative position, wherein it displaces a sheet from said position intoa first pile; a second pusher member mounted to reciprocate in adirection parallel to that of the first pusher member to and from anoperative position wherein it displaces a sheet passing the first pushermember into a second pile; means for reciprocating said pusher membersbetween their two positions in alternate relation at a rate commensuratewith the rate at which the sheets are fed to said given position wherebysaid first pusher member is adapted to displace each sheet into saidfirst pile, said means including an oscillatable driving cam, a camfollower operatively connected to said first pusher member and mountedto move to and from an inoperative position wherein it is disengagedfrom said cam; a shifting linkage movable between a normal inoperativeposition and an operative position; and a connection between saidshifting linkage and said cam follower whereby the follower is moved toan operative position in the normal position of said shifting linkageand is moved to an inoperative position to immobilize said first pushermember when said shifting linkage is moved to an operative position.

2. A sorting mechanism according to claim 1 including means forpositively feeding a sheet from said given position in front of saidfirst pusher member to a position in front of said second pusher member;said feeding means normally moved to an inoperative position; and anoperative connection between said feeding means and said shiftinglinkage whereby said feeding means is moved to its operative positionwhen said shifting linkage is moved to its inoperative position toimmobilize said first pusher member.

3. A sorting mechanism according to claim 1 including means forpositively feeding a sheet from said given position in front of saidfirst pusher member to a position in front of said second pusher member;said feeding means normally moved to an inoperative position; and anoperative connection between said feeding means and said shiftinglinkage whereby said feeding means is moved to its operative positionwhen said shifting linkage is moved to its inoperative position toimmobilize said first pusher member, a stop member movable to and fromthe path of said sheets to positively locate them in said given positionin front of said first pusher member, said stop member connected to saidshifting linkage to be moved from the path of said sheets when theshifting linkage is moved to an inoperative position to immobilize saidfirst pusher member and move said sheet-feeding means to an operativeposition.

4. A sorting mechanism according to claim 1, including a pair of guidemembers movable between an operative position, wherein they are locatedat opposite sides of the first pusher member and are spaced from thepusher member when in its inoperative position to provide in combinationtherewith aguideway into which the sheet is fed when moved to said givenposition and is held against face-wise displacement, and an inoperativeposition, wherein said guide members are removed from in front of saidsheet, means for moving said guide members between said two positions;and an operative connection between said last-mentioned means and saidpusher member whereby the guide members are moved to their inoperativeposition during the initial part of the movement of said pusher membertoward its operative position and are returned to their operativeposition after the pusher memberhas moved to its operative position.

5. A sorting mechanism according to claim 1 including a pair of guidemembers adjacent each pusher member and each pair movable between aguiding position, wherein they extendalong opposite sides of theircorresponding pusher member when in its inoperative position to providein combination therewith a guid'eway into which the sheets are fed andare held against face-wise displacement, and an inoperative position,wherein said guide members are removed from in front of said sheets,means for moving said guide members to said inoperative position whenthe pusher members are moved to their operative positions, and means forfeeding a sheet from in front of said first pusher member in front ofsaid second pusher member when the former is rendered inoperative, andincluding a pair of endless belts, one on each side of said secondpusher and having a reach normally spaced behind the plane occupied bythe. sheet located in the guideway formed by the pusher member and itsassociated guide members and said reach extending along the edge of thesheet and aligned with one of said guide members, means for'continuallydriving saidbelts in a direction to advance a sheet from in front of thefirst pusher member to in front of the second pusher member, and meansfor pressing said reach of the belts adjacent the sheet toward theircorresponding guide members to grip the edges of the sheet between thesame and said guide members when said first pusher member is renderedinoperative.

6. A sorting mechanism according to claim 1, including a stop membermovable to and from an operative position wherein it extends across thepath of the sheets adjacent the leaving edge of said first pusher memberand positively limits the feed of the sheets at said given position infront of said first pusher member; said stop member' operativelyconnected to said shifting linkage whereby said stop member is movedfrom its operative position when said shifting linkage is moved. to anoperative position.

7. A web sorting mechanism according to claim 1, including. a stopmember movable to and from an operative position wherein it extendsacross the path of the sheets adjacent the leaving edge of said pushermember and positively limits the feed of the sheets at said givenposition in front of said first pusher member; said stop memberoperativel'y connected to said shifting linkage whereby said stop memberis moved from its operative position when said first pusher member isrendered inoperative; and meansfor positively feeding a cut sheet fromin front of said first pusher member to a position in front of saidsecond pusher member, said feeding means being normally inoperative andoperatively connected to said shifting linkage so as to be renderedoperative when said first pusher member is rendered inoperative by saidlinkage.

8. A sorting mechanism for selectively sorting sheets leaving a choppingmechanism at a uniform rate into one or the other of two different pilesand comprising a first pusher member adapted to be mounted adjacent theleaving side of the shopping mechanism to move transversely across thepath of the. chopped sheets from a retractedposition, wherein the sheetsmay move down in front thereof,. to an extended position, wherein the.pusher member has moved' across the sheet path and pushed a sheet intoone of two piles; a second pusher member adjacent the first and mountedto move transversely across the path of the sheets between a retractedposition and an extended position to push the sheets passing said firstpusher into a second pile; means for continuously reciprocating saidpusher members between their two positions in alternate relation, thespeed of said last-mentioned means being synchronized with that of thechopping mechanism so that the first pusher is moved from a retractedposition each time a new sheet is moved in front thereof; means fordisconnecting said first pusher member from said reciprocating meanswhen it is in its retracted position to allow a sheet to pass in frontof the second pusher member; means for feeding the sheetsfrom in frontof said first pusher member to in front of said second pusher member,said means being normally inoperative; means for rendering said sheetfeeding means operative; and a connection between said last-mentionedmeans and said means. for disconnecting said first pusher member fromsaid reciproeating means for rendering said feeding means operative whenthe first pusher member is made inoperative.

9. A sorting mechanism for selectively sorting sheets leaving a choppingmechanism at a uniform rate into one or the other of two difierent pilesand comprising a first pusher member adapted to be mounted adjacent theleaving side of the chopping mechanism to move transversel'y across thepath of the chopped sheets from a retracted position, wherein the sheetsmay move .down in front thereof, to an extended position, wherein thepusher member hasv moved. across. the sheet path and pushed a sheet intoone of two. piles; a second pusher member adjacent the first and mountedto move transversely across the path of the sheets between a retractedposition and an extended position to push the sheets passing said firstpusher into a second pile; means for continuously reciprocating saidpusher members between their two positions in alternate relation,including an oscillat'abl'e driving cam and a driving link connectedbetween the first pusher member and said cam which is pivotally mountedto be moved from driving engagement with said cam, the speed of saidlastmentioned' means being synchronized with that of the choppingmechanism so. that the first pusher is moved from a retracted positioneach time a new sheet is moved in front thereof; and means fordisconnecting said first pusher member from said reciprocating meanswhen it is in its retracted position to. allow a sheet to pass in frontof the second pusher member and including a linkage for pivoting saiddriving link from engagement with said cam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,722,751 Jones July 30, 1929 2,363,577 Dexter Nov. 28, 1944 2,433,685Dowell Dec. 30, 1947

